Harness-snap.



J. G. PROEBSTEL.

HARNESS SNAP. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 23, 1911.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

witr messes Inventor Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COHWASHINO'MN. III-c.

J. G. PROEBSTEL.

HARNESS SNAP.

APPLICATION FILED we. 23, 1911.

1,016,360. v Patented Febqs, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z Julius 6f Pmefiak Witnesses Inventor vat/ W by 1 y I I OZ Attorneys H c0-, WASHINGTON D c JULIUS C. PROEIBSTEL, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

HARNESS-SNAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. August 23, 1911. Serial No. 645,524.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS G. PROEBSTEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Harness-Snap, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in harness generally, more particularly what may be termed snaps.

The object of the invention, primarily, is to obviate the use of a spring for the retention of the tongue in effective or engaging position.

A further object is to provide for effecting the hitching operation with facility and security.

A still further object is to reduce the number of parts to the minimum and ac cordingly lessen the cost of the manufacture of the device.

A still further object is to suitably distribute and deliver the stress or pull in a straight line.

A still further object is to provide for assembling or bringing together the parts into organic form, especially with the view of reducing or lessening the use of fastenings for that purpose.

A still further object is to provide for otherwise improving the construction of the device and whereby the same may be pro duced very light in structure.

A still further object is to carry out these ends in a simple, expeditious and effective manner.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, wherein various changes and modification may be made as relates to the detailed construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, Figure 1 is a broken perspective of the device. Fig. 2 is a broken sectional and partly side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section produced through Fig. 2, on the line XX, viewing in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a perspective of a modification of my invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 6 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 7 is a detached perspective of the tongue-member.

In carrying out my invention I suitably form the same of substantially two members 1 and 2,'these being pivotally connected as at 3 to allow of pivoting or moving the member 2 at a suitable angle to the member 1 for the insertion or passage of a hitching strap or line 4: attached to said member 1,

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

through the member 2, as indicated in Fig.

1 for a purpose presently seen. The mem ber 2 has a hook or beak like formation 5 beyond its pivoted end, said hook or beak like formation being received by a slot or pocket 6 produced in a continuation of the shank of a hook-formation 7 at the corresponding end of the member 1. The hooks 5 and 7 are so arranged that their free ends stand in their effective position adjacent to each other as shown, the same conjointly being adapted to retain therebetween a ring or link (not shown), said ring or link being engaged therewith by disposing or moving the member in the manner indicated especially in Fig. 1.

The member 1 has the strap or hitching member 4 suitably fastened or riveted thereto as disclosed in the drawings, the strap or hitching member being placed or laid flat thereon, parallel with the longitudinal plane of the shank of the hook-formation 7, the strap extending beyond the inner end of the member 1.

The member 2 is preferably of the general outline as disclosed, having its major portion flat and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the hook-portion 7, the latter facing or being presented edgewise in its engaging position.

The member 2 is provided with a rectangular slot or opening 8 for receiving or the passage of the hitching member or strap 4 therethrough, said slot or opening extending transversely thereof, near its free end, said member being adapted to be initially disposed at a suitable angle with respect to the member 1, to allow of presenting said strap or hitching member to, and its passage through said slot or opening as disclosed especially by Fig. 1.

In the formation of the slot or opening 8 of the tongue-member 2, the lateral walls 2 of said slot or opening are inclined 0r deflected toward the body-member 1, so that when said tongue-member, with its hook 5 is moved into effective position as disclosed by Fig. 2, the end terminating bar or wall 2 resulting from such slot-formais apparent.

tion, will be in alinement with, and abut against the opposite end of the body member, in order that the hitching member 4 may rest fiat upon the body member and be received compactly or within the minimum space between said body and tongue-members and also aid in the retention of the tongue-member in its effective position as This arrangement, it is also obvious provides for the retention of the tongue-member against lateral displacement with respect to the body member 1.

It'will be observed that, the strap or hitching member being passed through the tongue member, as a pulling action is exerted upon said strap or hitching member,

the latter will thereby be secured fiat down a hook 11.

or preferred form of disclosure.

1 upon the member 1 in its effective or locked position, thus obviating the use of a spring for that'purpose, as heretofore required, the

stress or pulling action exerted thereon hav ing the effect to more securely retain the tongue in effective position, as doubtless will be appreciated.

As suggested by Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, I may form the entire contrivance of light plate-metal; in such instance the body or strap carrying member 9 being deflected or inclinedas at- 10, which deflected or inclined portion is terminated into, or formed with Said deflected or inclined portion has formed therein a narrow preferably rectangular slot 12, itself, terminating in l the jshank of said hook, into an approximately'triangular slot-extension 13, with its base presentednext to said slot 12, said slot .and, slot-extension formation being of design, as will presently appear. The tonguemember 14 has at one end a deflected curved terminal or tongue proper 15 of approxi- -mately triangular general outline, its'baseportion being'connected to the main-portion of the member 14 by a neck 16, the purpose of which will presently appear. Said tongue-member 14 has its opposite end also deflected 0r inclined as at 17 which deflected or inclined portion is provided with a pref- 1 casual lateral displacementof the strap or "rein at'said point. Also it will be noted that, by "reason of this construction, the

strap or hitching member attached to said tongue-member is allowed, as it is extended through the slot 18, to lie fiat-upon the tongue-member in order to deliver the pulling action, exerted upon'the strap, in

such manner as to cause the tongue 15 to retain its point of contiguity or engagement with the hook l1 and thus effectively secure the ring or object receiving the hooks 11 and 15, in position against accidental or casual displacement. It is also further observed that, in assembling the parts or members, the tongue-member is presented edgewise to the body member so that its head or deflected approximately triangular portion 15 may be inserted through the slot-formations 12 and 13. After passing the same therethrough, said tongue-member 2 is suitably turned axially to introduce its neck-portion 16 into the slot-member 13, the shoulders formed by the base of the approximately triangular tongue or head then engaging or abutting against the member 1, while the like shoulders formed by said slot 13 will engage or abut against the neck 16 of said tongue or head portion, thus providing for effectively connecting the two members 1 and 2 together without the aid of fastenings as has heretofore been required, and whereby the tongue member may suitably pivot upon the body-member without the use of the usual form of pivot, as will be readily appreciated. a

From the foregoing disclosure, it is observed that not only is the use of a spring obviated for the retention of the tonguemember in effective or locked position, but that the stress or strain is exerted directly upon thestrap-carrying member or body portion of the device as necessary to bring such stress or strain upon the point of greater resistance or strength and whereby all stress or strain is removed from the tongue-member. It is only necessary to state possibly by way of emphasis that, in omitting the use of a spring simplicity as relates to the construction of the device is promoted, the number of parts required thereby in this class of devices being greatly reduced while the stress or strain is utilized for the retention of the tongue inits effec tive position.

It is thought that the advantages and benefitsof my invention will be fully appreciated from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying illustration or drawing, it being considered necessary to only state further that the device is quickly applied for use, it may be employed in connection with driving lines and a hitching post and is proof against becoming casually ineffective in exerting a holding action, while it is adapted to be utilized generally at the minimum expense and exerts a straight draw, as well as forms a lock for its intended purpose.

What is claimed 1. A harness snap, including a hook-ended body-member adapted to have a hitching member attached thereto, and a hook-ended tongue-member pivoted at its hook-ended portion Within said body-member and adapted to receive the hitching member, said body-member being extended in continuation of the shank of its hook to cause its hitching member attaching portion to stand parallel With, and be spaced ofi" from the opposite portion of said tongue-member, said tongue-member having its hitching member receiving-end oppositely extended and terminated in alinement With and abutting against said body-member.

2. A harness snap, including a hook-ended body member adapted to have a hitching member attached thereto, said body member having an approximately triangular slot and a rectangular slot forming an extension of the aforesaid slot, and a tongue-member having a deflected approximately triangular end-portion opposed to the hook-ended portion of said body-member, said tonguemember also having opposed lateral notches at the base of its triangular portion to laterally receive the body-member and allow of the passage of said tongue-member, said body-member being extended, in continuation of the shank of its hook to cause it to stand parallel With, and be spaced ofi from the opposite portion of said tongue-member, said tongue-member having a deflected slotted end portion for the passage therethrough of said hitching member, said slotted end-portion terminating in alinement with and abutting against said body-member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JULIUS C. PROEBSTEL.

Witnesses:

EDNA FULLER, G. EVERT BAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

